CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is proud to announce its 2018 Winter Scholar Athlete of the Year honorees. Each season the conference recognizes student-athletes not only for their effort on the field, but also for their effort in the classroom. Out of the hundreds of fall student-athletes that compete in the SUNYAC, eight were chosen for this special distinction.
To be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award students must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a 3.30 overall GPA, by being a starter or significant reserve for their team and they must be at least a sophomore.
Kevin Mackin (So.), Men's Basketball, Oneonta
In addition to being a starter on the men's basketball team, the Business Economics major had a GPA of 3.86 in the fall of 2017. Mackin's overall grade point average is 3.59. Along with his academic success, he was his team's leading scorer this season (334 pts) and led the team with 82 3-point baskets (second all-time for a single season) and shot 81% from the free throw line (34-42).
Jacque Law (Sr.), Women's Basketball, Fredonia
Law's college career saw success on and off the basketball court. Her 3.69 GPA as a biology major combined with her selection to the SUNYAC All-Conference third team exemplifies her commitment to school and sport. She led the team with 80 assists and averaged 12 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Law led the team with 125 free throws, shooting 78 percent from the line, and stands atop the Blue Devil career list in free throw attempts (468) and makes (361). She ranks eighth all time with 225 assists, and ninth in scoring at 1,083 points. Off the court, Law was a two-year SAAC member, on the Dean's List seven times, and participated in several events and associations such as the Great Lakes Beach Sweep, Vets' Walk-a-Thon, Seneca Nation of Indians & Fredonia, Play4Kay & Goal4TheGold fundraising, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
Brody Power (Sr.), Men's Ice Hockey, Buffalo State
The senior hockey player has a 3.92 cumulative GPA, majoring in Economics. He has made the Dean's List in all seven semesters, including securing a 4.0 GPA three times. The two-time team captain played 26 games on the blue line in 2017-18 and had four assists and a team-best plus-13 rating. Power is tied for the Buffalo State school record with 106 career games played The defenseman finished his career with three goals and 37 assists for 40 points. He was named to the second team All-SUNYAC in 2016-17.
Natalie LaCourt (Sr.), Swimming & Diving, Geneseo
LaCourt is a double-major (mathematics, English) with a 3.98 cumulative GPA. She is a 2018 SUNYAC Elite 20 winner, a 2018 first-team All-Conference selection in women's swimming and diving, and a three-time SUNYAC Champion (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay). During her career, she set a SUNYAC record at the SUNYAC Championships in the 200 medley relay (1:46.10) and qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division III swimming & diving championships in the 200 free relay. Out of the pool, LaCourt earned a spot on the President's List multiple semesters, including all 2017. She tutors and assists students with their writing at the Geneseo Writing Learning Center and assisted her mathematics professor in a directed study on knot mosaics. LaCourt also volunteered at Rochester School District in 2016 and 2017. She was a Natalie Selser Freed Memorial Scholarship (English) recipient and was accepted to Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society) as well as Phi Beta Kappa.
Jeff Doser (Sr.), Swimming & Diving, Geneseo
Doser is a double major (biology and mathematics) and Honors Program Member with a 3.86 cumulative GPA. He was a two-time Geneseo Swimming & Diving team captain from 2016-2018, as well as a four-time SUNYAC Men's Swimming & Diving All-Conference celection. He was a 14-time individual SUNYAC conference champion, four-time SUNYAC team champion, two-time qualifier for the NCAA Division III swimming & diving championships, and set a Geneseo program record in the 200 freestyle to tie for first in the 2017 SUNYAC championship meet. Doser set a Geneseo and SUNYAC record as part of the 200 free relay team in a time trial at the SUNYAC championships (1:21.77). Outside of the pool, Doser worked with Dr. Kristina Hannam (biology) to present at the North American Ornithological Conference on the use of soundscape recordings to analyze daily temporal variation in avian vocalizations in Western New York. He was also a Goldwater Scholarship Recipient in 2017 out of 300 national recipients each year. It is known as the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship given in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. Doser is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, the Sigma Xi Research Society, and the College Sports Information Directors' Association (CoSIDA). He also earned the SUNY Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award, SUNYAC Men's Swimming & Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year, President's List, Dean's List, Edgar Fellows Honors Program, and the Geneseo Foundation Scholarship.
Laura Piazza (Jr.), Indoor Track & Field, Geneseo
Piazza earned a 3.89 cumulative GPA as a Psychology/Communication double major. Her academic success was also matched with her athletic success. Piazza was the 2018 SUNYAC indoor pole vault champion with a jump of 3.70m (she broke the meet record, tied the SUNYAC record, and set a program record). She also was a 2018 NCAA Division III indoor championship qualifier (finished tied for 11th).
Luke Holtzman (Jr.), Indoor Track & Field, Geneseo
Holtzman has earned a 3.93 cumulative GPA in his time at Geneseo. The chemistry major has ACSC Certification in addition to his studies. Holtzman led off National Champion DMR at the 2018 NCAA Division III indoor championships for Geneseo. He also became the 2018 SUNYAC indoor mile champion. Holtzman was one of the 2018 Goldwater Scholarship winners out of 300 nationwide each year. It is known as the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship given in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.
